I Was Reincarnated As a Man who Steals The Protagonist’s Childhood Friend - 6 - Train Station

As the sun’s rays filtered through my bedroom window, I welcomed the new day with a renewed sense of energy. Glancing at my phone, the clock confirmed that it was 7:00 AM—a perfect window to prepare myself for what lay ahead. With a contented sigh, I dove into my morning routine.

I enjoyed the soft shower’s spray as I waved any last remnants of sleep goodbye. The bathroom provided a peaceful paradise. It was a quick self-care action and a reviving morning habit. I went back to my room and pulled out my nicely folded school uniform from the drawer after getting clean and refreshed. My school uniform consists of blazers, a red necktie, a white polo, and long black pants. 

I take a quick check of today’s weather and it shows that it’s going to be quite hot, so I decided against wearing the school blazer and went for a white polo shirt since it was lighter and would provide some ventilation from the scorching heat. I neatly tied the crimson necktie as I got ready, giving the bright white cloth a colorful contrast.

With my appearance in check, I grabbed my bag and slipped into my shoes, bidding a silent farewell to the empty space around me, a habit that I’ve brought from my past life.

Stepping outside the apartment, a serene of tranquility enveloped the neighborhood. The quietude embraced me like a warm blanket as I guided my steps in the direction of the train station. I couldn’t help but take in the peaceful surroundings and enjoy the soothing rustles of nature as I traveled ahead.

The quiet streets basked in the warm embrace of the sun as I made my way toward the train station. The early hour ensured a peaceful commute, with only a few people dotting the landscape. I stepped onto the train, grateful for having a few passengers inside before reaching my destination.

A few minutes passed, and I reached my station. As I stepped off the train, my first task was to locate the convenience store that was usually situated along the street leading to school. However, as I emerged from the station, my attention was immediately drawn to someone familiar. Upon closer inspection, to my surprise, it was Nakano Hoshino, standing gracefully amidst the bustling crowd. I couldn’t help but wonder why she was waiting here instead of at Naoki’s house, where I assumed she would be.

Without hesitation, I called out to her, capturing her attention.

“Yo, Hoshino. Good morning,” I greeted her. Her eyes met mine, gleaming with recognition and delight.

“Good morning, Takeshi-kun!” she cheerfully replied, her voice brimming with warmth and sincerity. Seeing her like this, I felt a surge of motivation, as if I could conquer anything in that moment.

“So, you’re waiting for Naoki?” I asked, curious about the situation.

“Yes, it seems he’ll be arriving here soon.” she answered.

“I see. But why here though? Couldn’t you just wait for him at his house?” I inquired.

She hesitated for a moment before responding, “Um… I was also waiting for you to arrive here.”

What the hell? How did she know I would be here at this hour? Could it be what they call “a woman’s intuition”? I thought.

“Ah, I see. But I’m surprised you knew I’d be here. How’d you do that?” I inquired, genuinely intrigued.

“Um, intuition, perhaps?” she replied, her gaze briefly averting from me.

Huh. Not the most surprising answer, I suppose.

As we were having a normal conversation, a loud voice suddenly rang out from nearby.

“Hoshino!”

That voice. I could immediately guess who it was. It was none other than Naoki, the supposed main protagonist of this doujin world. He came to where we are.

“Hey, Naoki-kun. Don’t exert yourself too much. You’ve just recovered from being sick,” Hoshino advised him.

“Don’t worry, Hoshino! My fever is completely gone, so there’s nothing to worry about!” Naoki proclaimed, mimicking a jogging motion in front of her. She couldn’t help but let out a small giggle at his playful antics.

But for some reason, an unusual sensation started creeping into my heart. It was like a slowly spreading darkness, painting my emotions in a different shade. But I just brushed it off, thinking it will go away when I ignore it.

“Ah, hello there, Takeshi-san,” Naoki greeted me with a smile.

“Yo, looks like you’ve already beaten that fever, huh?” I remarked.

“Yep, I hope it doesn’t come back, but if it does, I’ll beat it with the power of medicine!” Naoki declared, sounding determined.

“That’s good to hear,” I responded. “Anyway, shall we get going?”

As Hoshino and Naoki walked alongside each other, engaged in their own conversation, I found myself trailing behind them. The school was just a 10-minute walk from the station, so we had plenty of time and we don’t have to worry about getting late. Plus, I had a personal objective to fulfill, and that is buying some breakfast to have.

A little while later, the corner convenience store drew my attention as it welcomed me with its vibrant signs and entryway.

“I’ll just grab something here. You guys go ahead,” I called out to Hoshino and Naoki.

“Oh, I’ll come too. Naoki-kun, do you want to join us?” Hoshino suggested.

“Yeah, actually, I just remembered there’s something I need to buy,” Naoki replied.

And so, the three of us entered the convenience store.

The store itself was quite spacious, filled with a wide variety of items ranging from junk food and instant meals to packaged goods. There was a crystal-clear fridge showcasing an array of beverages, and they even had a basic stationery section. However, all I needed was a sandwich to appease my hungry stomach. I head to the packaged food section and grabbed the wrapped triangle sandwich. Once I had what I needed, I felt a presence behind me—it was Naoki.

“Takeshi-san, did you find what you were looking for?” he asked, his eyes filled with curiosity.

“Yeah, just something for breakfast today. And you?” 

Naoki grinned and held up a small box containing mechanical pencil leads. “Got these! Always need them for school, you know.”

When the two of us had everything we needed, we went to the cashier to pay for the items we wanted to purchase. Amidst the silent atmosphere inside, I couldn’t help but steal glances at Hoshino, who seemed particularly drawn to the vibrant sweets section, her eyes twinkling with delight. It was clear that she had a sweet tooth.

“So, um, there’s something I wanted to discuss with you, Takeshi-san. It’s about Hoshino,” Naoki’s voice eventually came through, however it was slightly worried-sounding.

“Yeah, what about her?” I was curious so I gave Naoki my whole attention, prepared to hear what he had to say.

“Could you please stay away from her?”